Description
Ina Garten’s white cake delivers classic elegance with simple ingredients and foolproof technique. Delicate crumb and buttery sweetness make this dessert perfect for celebrations, with bakers finding joy in its straightforward preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
- 14 oz (396 g) all-purpose flour
- 14 oz (396 g) sugar
- 8 oz (226 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 10 oz (284 g) milk, room temperature
- 6 large egg whites, room temperature
- 2 oz (57 g) vegetable oil
- 2 ½ tsps baking powder
- 1 tsp clear almond extract
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 335°F. Grease two 8-inch cake pans with non-stick spray or butter.
- Liquid Mixture: Whisk milk, vegetable oil, almond extract, and vanilla extract in a bowl. Set aside.
- Dry Ingredients: Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together in a separate container.
- Butter Creaming: Using a stand mixer, cream butter until smooth. Gradually add sugar, whipping on high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
- Egg Integration: Slowly incorporate egg whites into butter-sugar mixture on low speed, ensuring complete blending after each addition.
- Batter Assembly: Alternately fold dry ingredients and liquid mixture into the base, starting with dry ingredients and ending with the final dry ingredient portion. Mix until just combined.
- Baking Process: Evenly distribute batter between prepared pans. Bake for 25-35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cooling Technique: Rest cakes in pans for ten minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Freeze wrapped cakes to preserve moisture, then trim browned edges.
- Frosting Creation: Whisk egg whites and powdered sugar, starting on low speed and increasing to high. Gradually add butter chunks, vanilla extract, and salt.
- Chocolate Drip Preparation: Melt white chocolate with water in a microwave-safe bowl. Whisk until smooth, then incorporate food coloring.
- Decorative Finishing: Cool chocolate mixture to 90°F. Apply chocolate drips around cake edges, allowing natural cascade. Once set, create metallic paint by mixing Everclear with gold dust and delicately brush over drips for a luxurious shimmer.
Notes
- Butter Temperature Matters: Ensure butter is at room temperature for smooth, silky creaming, which creates a lighter cake texture.
- Egg White Technique: Add egg whites gradually and mix on low speed to prevent deflating the delicate foam, maintaining the cake’s airiness.
- Mixing Method is Crucial: Alternate dry and wet ingredients gently to avoid overmixing, which can lead to a tough, dense cake.
- Freezing Hack: Wrapping and freezing warm cakes helps lock in moisture, preventing the cake from drying out and maintaining its softness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 345
- Sugar: 38 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg